Chichibu Mitsumine Shrine and Nagatoro River Boat Course

Chichibu is a region blessed with mountains and rivers, where both faith and nature have thrived since ancient times. This course lets you enjoy the high altitude Mitsumine Shrine and the Nagatoro river boat ride down a clear stream in a single day. Because the distances are long, an early start is best.

Course Route

8:30 Start at Seibu Chichibu Station Head to Mitsumine Shrine by bus or car. The route bus from Seibu Chichibu Station to Mitsumine Shrine takes about eighty minutes one way. The mountain road climbs, so check the timetable in advance and leave with time to spare.

9:45 Visit Mitsumine Shrine This shrine sits at over one thousand meters. Visiting the grounds is free, with no admission charge. The air is clear, and in the early hours a sea of clouds sometimes spreads below.

11:30 Come down for lunch Return to central Chichibu and fuel up on the local waraji cutlet or soba. Buses are limited, so confirming your return service in advance gives peace of mind.

13:30 Travel to Nagatoro Move to the Nagatoro area by the Chichibu Railway or car, enjoying the valley scenery on the way.

14:30 Ride the Nagatoro river boat A boatman steers you down the rapids of the Arakawa River. A single course through the valley runs about three kilometers, with a ride of roughly twenty minutes. The fare is around two thousand yen for adults and one thousand yen for children, rising a little in the busy season. The thrill of the spray is part of the charm.

15:30 Stroll the rock terraces to finish After the boat ride, wander the flat rocks along the riverbank to close out the day.

Highlights

Mitsumine Shrine is a rare shrine that honors the wolf as a guardian, and its deep mountain setting creates a mysterious mood. The Nagatoro boat ride lets you view valley scenery that changes with the seasons from the surface of the water. The fresh greenery of spring and the autumn colors are especially popular.

Access and Tips

Seibu Chichibu Station is the base. The bus to Mitsumine Shrine takes about eighty minutes one way and does not run often, so check both the outbound and return times in advance. The Chichibu Railway is convenient for reaching Nagatoro. To cover both the mountain and the river in one day, a relaxed plan with plenty of time is important.

Practical Travel Notes

• Time needed: Linking Mitsumine Shrine and Nagatoro fills nearly a full day once travel is included. Build in the bus waiting times when planning.
• Getting there: By train, take the Seibu Line from central Tokyo to Seibu Chichibu Station. The route bus to Mitsumine Shrine takes about eighty minutes one way. The Chichibu Railway is convenient for Nagatoro. By car, moving between spots is flexible, but be comfortable driving mountain roads.
• Cost guide: A visit to Mitsumine Shrine is free. The Nagatoro river boat costs around two thousand yen for adults for one course of about three kilometers and about twenty minutes. Fares rise in the busy season, so check the fare calendar on the day.
• Clothing and gear: There is a temperature gap between the mountains and the river. Bring an extra layer. The boat ride can leave you wet from the spray, so a change of clothes and a towel add comfort.

A Quick Tip

The temperature gap between mountain and river is large, so clothes that are easy to put on and take off are handy. Buses are limited, so keeping the timetable at hand keeps the day moving smoothly.

Practical Information for Your Visit

• Reception at Mitsumine Shrine: Applications for prayer rituals are accepted from 9:00 to 16:00, every day of the year (the hours change over the New Year period). No reservation is needed, and worshippers are shown in as they register
• Mitsumine car park (run by Chichibu City): Normally 8:00-18:00. The charges are 210 yen for motorcycles, 520 yen for ordinary vehicles and the like, 1,040 yen for microbuses and 1,570 yen for large buses. The shrine is high in the mountains and the road there has sharp curves and narrow stretches, so drive with care
• Chichibunomiya Memorial Mount Mitsumine Museum (on the shrine grounds): 9:00-16:00, admission 300 yen for general visitors and 100 yen up to junior high school age (free for holders of a disability certificate). Closed every Tuesday and throughout the winter (December to March), including the New Year period
• Operating season of the Nagatoro Line Kudari river boats: In most years the boats run from early March to early December, switching to the "warm kotatsu boat" in January and February. They operate from around 9:00 to 16:00 (ending as soon as same-day tickets sell out), and for part of the start and end of the season the hours are shortened to 10:00-14:30. Trips may be cancelled or switched to a round-trip cruise if the water level of the Arakawa River is too high or too low
• Where to check in: The Nagatoro Line Kudari headquarters is 1 minute on foot from Nagatoro Station on the Chichibu Railway
• Inquiries: 0494-55-0241 (Mitsumine Shrine), 0494-66-0950 (Nagatoro Line Kudari, around 9:00 to 17:00), 0494-55-0834 (Mitsumine car park toll booth)
• Official information: The official Mitsumine Shrine website, the official Chichibu City website, and the official Chichibu Railway website

* The above is a guide based on information published by each facility and local government. Times and prices are subject to change, so please check the official information before you set out.